Press Releases

The Arizona Center for Disability Law (ACDL) filed multiple complaints against Mohave County, Arizona, on behalf of Michael Lipshultz, a resident of Bullhead City and a person with a disability, for the County’s alleged failure to accommodate him at his polling place on Election Day last November.

In a critical landmark civil rights case, a federal court in Arizona ruled that the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and three individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing may proceed in their lawsuit seeking to have the State and numerous local governments implement text to 911 capabilities.

On February 8, 2017, United HealthCare (UHC) and the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) reversed its prior denial of medically necessary breastmilk for Kallista Smith, a 17-month-old baby with a disability. Kallista needs low-dairy breastmilk as her sole nutrition because of severe intolerance and allergies to formulas and food. Although her medical team looks for alternative nutritional sources, it is a slow process and breastmilk keeps Kallista alive.

Maricopa County will pay $100,000 and provide other relief to settle a disability discrimination charge filed by Complainant Roberta Bonaski, a former long-term employee of the Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT). Ms. Bonaski was represented by Arizona Center for Disability Law Staff Attorney Maya Abela.

Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Southwest Fair Housing Council (SWFHC), the Arizona Fair Housing Center (AFHC), and the City of Phoenix settled a complaint filed with HUD alleging disability, race, and national origin discrimination in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher wait list process.

The Southwest Fair Housing Council (SWFHC) and the Arizona Fair
Housing Center (AFHC) claim that City of Phoenix’s current process to
open the wait list discriminates against individuals with disabilities
and families and individuals who do not speak English well.